Reimagining an Icon: Jack Stack Barbeque Overland Park Refresh

When you’re working with an iconic Kansas City brand, renovation is a balancing act. You want to honor what people love while elevating the space for today’s guests. That was our goal when we partnered with Jack Stack Barbeque to refresh their Overland Park location—modernizing the interior while preserving the character that makes the brand instantly recognizable.

Our Process: Start with the Existing Space

Every project begins with understanding what’s already there. Before any sketches or renderings, we walk the space, take photos, and experience it the way guests do.

During our initial site visit, we documented the existing finishes, lighting conditions, and spatial constraints. These “before” images helped us identify opportunities—both big and small—for improving the guest experience.

One of the biggest takeaways from that first visit was how dark the space felt, even during the day. The goal was clear: make the restaurant feel brighter, more open, and more inviting—without losing the warmth and identity that guests associate with Jack Stack.

A New Materials Palette with Familiar Roots

For the refreshed design, we looked to other Jack Stack locations across the Kansas City metro for inspiration. The brand has a strong visual language, but each location has its own personality.

For Overland Park, we developed a materials palette that felt cohesive with the broader brand while giving this location its own identity. Brighter finishes, lighter tones, and strategic contrast helped visually expand the space and bring in a more contemporary feel.

Visualizing the Future with 3D Tools

A key part of our design process is 3D visualization. By building the space digitally, we can show clients exactly what the finished environment will look like—before construction ever begins.

Before → 3D Render → Final This progression is one of the most powerful storytelling tools in our process. It allows clients to:

• Visualize the completed space

• Explore material and finish options

• Provide real-time feedback

• Build internal consensus with stakeholders

Envisioned dining changes

Envisioned entry changes

Envisioned bar changes

These tools help remove ambiguity and assist in making design decisions with confidence.

Collaboration & Constructability: Designing with the End in Mind

Design doesn’t stop at renderings. Our construction documents and collaborative process with general contractors allow us to work through potential challenges early—before they become costly issues in the field.

By resolving details ahead of time, we help:

• Streamline construction

• Reduce RFIs and surprises

• Accelerate project timelines

• Keep budgets and schedules on track

And in this case, speed mattered. Time is money—especially in a restaurant.

Fast Turnaround, Minimal Disruption

One of the biggest challenges for our client was the idea of the construction timeline, and how they could remain open while the renovation was underway. Through rigorous planning, coordination, and around-the-clock work with our project partners, the renovation was completed quickly while to-go operations continued uninterrupted.

The result? A refreshed, brighter, more welcoming space that still feels unmistakably like Jack Stack.

The Result

By combining thoughtful design, advanced visualization tools, and close collaboration with all parties involved, we were able to modernize an iconic restaurant space—without sacrificing brand identity or business continuity.

It’s a process that allows us to explore, align, and solve problems early, so construction can move fast and clients can keep doing what they do best: serving great food.